NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU)
NSATU is a NATO military command that coordinates military donations to Ukraine, as well as training and development of Ukraine’s defence forces. Norway participates in the command.
What does Norway do?
As of 2026, the Norwegian contingent consists of eight Norwegian staff officers (officers and specialists) serving with NSATU.
The mission is defined as an international deployment, with a required rotation cycle of a minimum six-month posting. The work is carried out from a tented and hangar-based setup.
The majority of the personnel serve in various roles at the headquarters in Wiesbaden, including one officer assigned to the NSATU staff at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium.
NSATU is a visible demonstration of NATO’s commitment to Ukraine, helping the country uphold its right to self-defence as enshrined in the UN Charter. It is also an integral part of the broader summit package for Ukraine, which includes long-term security assistance and support for Ukraine’s courageous efforts to defend its country.
What is NSATU?
NSATU has the following main tasks:
- Coordinate military donations, without creating them. Member states decide and provide donations through political decisions and national strategic planning.
- Coordinate allied training of Ukrainian forces at various training facilities.
- Record and manage requirements for the repair of donated equipment.
- Support the long-term development of Ukraine’s armed forces, enhancing their interoperability with NATO.
Background
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Norway decided to support Ukraine in the war by contributing defence personnel to a newly established headquarters responsible for coordinating Western military donations and training.
This “Coalition of the Willing” consisted of around twenty nations from NATO and partner countries. Each nation contributed, among other things, a national liaison officer to a combined force based at a U.S. military base in Wiesbaden, Germany, not far from Frankfurt.
The coalition was operationalised through the International Donor Coordination Center (IDCC) and the Security Assistance Group Ukraine (SAG-U). Since the deployment of a small Norwegian staff element in March 2023, Norway has provided military personnel who reported on critical Ukrainian needs for equipment, repair support, user manuals, and training proposals for Ukrainian forces. A central task has also been to monitor and follow up on Norwegian donations until delivery to the end user.
Background of NSATU
At the NATO Summit in Washington in July 2024, member states agreed to ensure future weapons assistance to Ukraine regardless of leadership changes. Based on this decision, a NATO military command was established in Wiesbaden.
The former IDCC was incorporated into this new command, which was named NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU). NSATU was formally established in autumn 2024 and continues to coordinate Western military aid to Ukraine.
NSATU is led by the United States under Lieutenant General Curtis Buzzard, who also serves as commander of the U.S.-led SAG-U. Several hundred personnel from around 30 nations, including partner countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Ukraine, serve at NSATU headquarters in Wiesbaden. From March 2025, logistical hubs, including in Poland, were also integrated into NSATU.
Service in NSATU is primarily organised around three divisions: Support (SPT), Force Development Support (FDS), and Training. The structure enables short lines of communication and close, daily contact with Ukrainian partners, who are co-located with NSATU according to their areas of expertise.
